Sunday 26 October 2014

Summer in Spring and scarf winner!

Can it really be almost three weeks since I last blogged?? Thanks Judy in Queensland for reminding me…..an email prompt to see if I am okay! As the title reflects we have just had the hottest heat spell on record in an October. We had six days over 32 and no rain for so long now. The hills have quickly changed from green to yellow but the roses have been loving it and the sunsets have been glorious……


 The gorgeous bunch on the right were from a friend..thanks Pam and they lasted well over a week...
 Sadly I had to leave my two glorious William Morris roses on the townhouse garden arch but I did bring one potted one with me and it is now blooming………...
 When we moved to our new home just nine months ago we inherited a front garden of landscaped pebbles. Tons of them so they are too expensive to remove. I do like to get my hands in the dirt so I am trying to live with them. So I have planted several lavender bushes and nine rose bushes which are coming along well. I also planted two Pierre-De-Ronsard climbing roses to grow on a new arch and I am hoping for wonderful displays in the coming years………….

 I hope a newly planted silver birch and crepe myrtle survive our harsh summers……...

 William Morris is still alive and well with more and more popping up everywhere. I recently saw a link to some new Morris fashion from the Jigsaw fashion label using Morris' Brer Rabbit pattern. (have a look via the Jigsaw link). And a friend sent me a link to share that Doc Martens and Liberty have teamed up together so these shoes might be on my Christmas wish list……..(thanks Delma!)


 Those of you in the UK have the "Anarchy and Beauty" William Morris exhibition currently showing at the National Portrait Gallery where you can see a 30 second promotion via the link. Here at home I was thrilled to finally visit our old Stock Exchange building a week or so ago. I knew there were Morris windows but I did not expect to be able to just wander upstairs to see it all! I didn't have my camera with me so these views were taken on my phone. The meeting room is decorated in contemporary Morris but the windows are from 1901 and designed by John Henry Dearle. The top three panels are from Edward Burne Jones figures and represent morning, sun and evening. The six panels were to commemorate Australia's federation and depict the British Empire united by Britannia…..


 So finally some BIG news. I was keeping it quiet but unfortunately my printer decided to tell a friend who was in there on her own business….."Guess what…Michele is writing a book"!! So before word spreads too much…..Yes it is official….I am writing a new book! I am self publishing and the printer and I have been talking figures and layouts for a while, so now it is all systems go! It will be along the theme of "May Morris comes for Afternoon Tea" ….so I will leave it to your imagination. But it will be smaller achievable projects with not too, too much appliqué! So stay tuned. I hope it is ready to go by April next year and you will be able to purchase from me direct! 

One last thing…. it is time to say thank you for your wonderful comments and kind words regarding my last post on 'kindness'. Larry and I did a random draw the old fashioned way by putting all your names in a bowl and drawing one out…….so the winner is……
 even eyes closed!…...
 It is Sharon Hoogland! So please contact me Sharon so I know where to post your new William Morris/Michele Hill designed scarf! (Your email address did not come up when I clicked on your name)
Have a great week wherever you are xx



Wednesday 8 October 2014

Kind people

Wouldn't the world be a wonderful place if we were all kind to each other? I was reminded of this today when I received a package (Yes, Australia Post actually delivered!). This gift was an unexpected reward from the wonderful Superior Threads company and all because they had seen my post about using their threads and needles here! I mentioned a few other brands too but what an incredible surprise to get an email from one of the company bosses to say thankyou! I was offered a $5 voucher but within a few hours it was upgraded to a $50 one!! So I have my most favourite needles stocked up and a brand new Superior Thread holder. I do like to use thread stands for my quilting and appliqué and this one is multipurpose so I can't wait to put it to use. Thankyou so much 'Dr Bob' (and I have your thread therapy DVD as well!), and to 'Mother Superior' and vice president Todd……you have one very happy appliqué girl 'down under' and I am proud to share it here……….


 So as I was enjoying the warm feeling of someone being kind  it made me think of all the kind people I have met in my life. It was my late Mum who always told me to treat people as you would like to be treated and it is a practice I do try to uphold…...
So then I started looking around and everywhere are gifts that have been given to me purely as "random acts of kindness" or simple thank you gifts from students in classes to people I've showed around Adelaide. Thank-you to each and everyone of you who have been so kind. I know there are more tucked in drawers but this was my first brief look…….
 A lovely lady from New Zealand who made knitted rabbits for Beau and Maisie - but guess what…they are living with me for when the little ones visit!!
 This is my most recent kind gift which some girls purchased right in front of me and I did not know about (and behind it a treasured gift of a finely stitched lace doily) ….
I've received several thimbles as gifts (Morris of course!)…...

 Kind cards in the mail some months ago to wish us well in our new home……...
 an incredible kind award from dear friends in my Guild………..
 Then there are the kind shops who stock my fabrics and books……

And a kind shop owner who even made me a purse from my fabrics which I use everyday for my 'lippy'!….
 The kind people who come and listen to me rave on about my Morris obsession…..
 no matter how disabled they might be………
And when they take the trouble to bring quilts they have made from my books - I think that is kind…..
 A cushion in my fabrics from the other side of Australia which adorns my bed every day…..
 The kind people that make Sanctuaries so others can have time out and just chill….well keep warm here in this pic!

 Art Gallery curators that are kind and make time to share our love (of all things Morris!)…..
Maple syrup from our friends in Canada and also from their trees!!……..
The kindness of friends making me a surprise quilt on my 50th birthday eight years ago (goodness a 60th in two years - yipee!). 
A recent kind gift from Ann-Marie of Beautiful Stitches……
 Now this has to be the most heroic act of kindess that my late Dad shared.  As many of you know I am a proud daughter of a man who served in the Pathfinder Force of Bomber Command in WW11 and survived more ops than he should have. Captain Ted Swales photographed here did the ultimate act of kindness - he saved his entire crew, including my Dad but sadly lost his life in the process. Little comfort to his family but he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for that act of kindness which you can read about here.
 I recently purchased a replica model of the Lancaster plane and Beau was entranced by it all and the photos. So I found some more and they are now displayed in the hallway. I did not know that Dad had written on the back of one of the photos though…….incredible………

 He had written on the back the following: 
"Our crew had a phobia about having our photo taken while on operations. At 11am on the morning of February 23rd 1945 the squadron photographic section talked us into having a crew photo taken in front of our aircraft, M for Mother. At 2306 that evening, we were dangling at the end of parachutes with the exception of the pilot who went in with his plane and was awarded a posthumous VC. That photo has now become history and appeared in numerous books and publications. It has even been blown up in size and is an exhibit at the Bomber Command Museum at Hendon in the UK" 
 And I am so grateful to Dad for taking the time to keep the photo and also record this important piece of history. And of course to Captain Ted Swales - the ultimate act of kindness and he was only 29…...

So to continue this theme of being kind it seems only right to share the kindness of Helen from Whitecroft tours who recently sent me left over mugs from the tours so some lucky people have received one as a gift……
 She also sent me some of the silk scarves with one of my Morris patterns on it. So to return a kind act I am giving away one of them. They are of the highest quality silk and hand rolled and stitched and you hardly feel like it is on you as it is so light. They are made by Beckford Silk in the UK, suppliers of scarves for museums and galleries and retail for 45-55 British pounds which today is about $90. So leave a comment and Larry will do a lucky draw. The rest are for sale if you are interested - there are only three so make me an offer and highest bid receives! (And thanks Helen for your true kindness) xx

So lets make the world a better place by all being kind and thanks Superior Threads for starting the ripple!